THIS Blue-book is decidedly painful reading for patriotic Englishmen. It shows with only too much lucidity how "wanton and arrogant was the assault made by Komaroff. The first despatch of Sir Peter Lumsden points out that the Russians are endeavouring to provoke a combat. The efforts of Captain Yate to avert it are detailed. The insolence of the Muscovite officers is set forth, and when the "unhappy incident" has befallen we have here the long series of telegrams and dispatches in which it was attempted to get at the truth of the business. Komaroff's account and that of the British Commissioners are duly reproduced, and we have also the letters of the Afghan chiefs, plainly showing how aggressive was the demeanour of the Czar's force. The General Ghaus-ud-deen writes from Penjdeh: "I inform you that they are coming here to fight, and their reserves, whether in small or large numbers, are also coming, while you are negotiating for the settlement of the boundary delimitation. The enemy has occupied three stations in your territory. As soon as the Russian troops arrive in Pul-i-Khishti the Sarik tribe will get out of hand, and we cannot then obtain supplies. We shall be ruined by our own hands. Send me a reply without delay, that our faces may not be black before God, His Prophet, and the King," The slaughter having, however, been effected Lord Granville strove to get the Russians to retire from the debated soil; but the only answer to this effort was the establishment of a "Provisional Government" at" Penjdeh; and the Court of St. Petersburg, having received and forwarded Komaroff's statement, took up the position that it furnished a sufficient explanation of all circumstances. It was in vain that the report of Sir Peter Lumsden contradicted and rectified the Russian version. Nothing can be haughtier then M. de Giles's answer: "The memorandum delivered to Sir Edward Thornton in reply to his, and the telegram from General Komaroff which I sent you in extenso, supply the explanations wished for by the English Government. The facts having been sufficiently elucidated, we see no reason why the negotiations should not be continued." The British Government replied that their information showed Komaroff to be the aggressor, fortifying this declaration with facts and proofs, St. Petersburg coldly refused to open the discussion. M. de Giers states that, "while sharing the desire of Her Majesty's Government to arrive at a friendly settlement, the Russian Government cannot sacrifice its dignity." He refers to his previous telegrams, justifies the attack upon the Afghans "on the ground that they occupied a position which was not foreseen when the order not to pass the limits of Penjdeh was sent to General Komaroff, and declines an examination of the facts relating to that attack." From the stiff attitude of satisfaction which they thus assumed with regard to their General's conduct Lord Granville cannot move the Imperial Court; and its Minister closes this part of the proceedings with an almost defiant recognition of the danger of the position, writing on April 8 : "We are perfectly aware of the gravity of the circumstances, and we sincerely share the wish of the English Government to arrive at a friendly understanding, but we could not sacrifice the interests of our dignity for it. We can, therefore, only refer to our telegrams of the 4th (16th) and 6th (18th) April."
Daily Telegraph, June 2, 1885
Central Asia 1885
Central Asia 1885
Table of Contents
Miracles of healing - Christian Miracles or Healing
History of Russia: Christian Versus Barbarian
History of Japan: Early Christian Martyrs
The Jesus of History
The Assyrian Origin of Devil Worshippers
The Christ Of Dogma
The early history of Constantinople
